One Mermaid's Tale

Honey's Perspective

Where it began....

Growing up in Tahoe, you pretty much know everyone. Having only one middle school and one high school forced all of us to grow up together. Ironically, Joey and I never shared any classes and I'm pretty sure he was the only person I never had a class with. But as with all born-and-bred Tahoeians, we know each other and just like any typical school, we labeled each other. In middle school, Joey was the cute little guy. In high school, he became the tough "jock." This is how I saw him. Jessica, my very best friend since the 2nd grade, told me of her crush on him. I was always supportive, but something deep down told me it would never work out. Lucky for me, she found love elsewhere and being the amazing friend she is, eventually gave me her blessing to be with Joey.

High school came and went. I wasn't the most driven individual and my romantic situation had been long needing revision. It wasn't until a pre-senior trip meeting that Joey caught my eye. 100 seniors had all met after school one day to go over logistics of the trip. After the meeting, Jessica and I made our way to her car to head home. We happened to be walking with Joey (and another girl, a name I can't recall -- I may have erased her from my memory out of jealousy). I remember being nervous, and thinking, "OMG! He is actually talking to ME?" I watched him get in his BMW (named Jezabel) with the unnamed girl and we both drove away. I thought to myself "Wow, what a nice guy! And so out of my league."

A few weeks later, I found myself spending an entire evening with him and some other seniors I never had the time to hang out with. Senior trip gave me the opportunity to get to know him better. We partied all night in Disneyland, now a staple location in our relationship. A few hours into the night, a group of us went to dance near one of the DJs. Everyone paired up and all who were left were Joey and I. Joey asked me to dance. Butterflies swirled in my stomach. I was so nervous! I couldn't bring myself to dance with him, I thought I would lose my rhythm or step on his foot or smack him in the face. Its one of the decisions in my life that I regret the most.

Miles, Joey, and I (and our friends Collin and Jackie behind) walking out of Disneyland at 6am.

Later that trip, Joey, me, and some other friends spent the day at Magic Mountain arguing over who was better: Batman or Superman. I, of course, have been a hard-core Superman fan pretty much my whole life. We were playful and flirtatious. The more I talked to him, the more I liked him. We got on our last ride of the day, which was appropriately the Batman ride. The sun was setting as our coaster cranked its way up the ramp. I was nervous and excited. I felt like something was going to happen. I so wanted him to ask me to Prom right then and there! But it didn't happen...then.

Joey and I with our fellow seniors at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

We made the long trek home, but our contact continued. We spent time together on the senior picnic, with Joey writing in my yearbook "I gotta tell you how much I love being in public with you, because I get to call you 'Honey!' Your personality has blown me away. Your knowledge of super heroes contends with the best. I look forward to riding many more roller coasters some day..." I read that and felt excited all over again! The thought of more roller coaster riding with him made me feel such a zest for life! I could be myself around him and it never felt so good. Unfortunately, we never made it to Prom as dates. But I saved a dance for him, and in my big poofy turquoise dress, we shared that song. We spent time together at Sober Grad Night, the night he was hypnotized and I snapped these incredible photos:

Joey and other seniors in our class were hypnotized during Sober Grad Night.

Joey and I at Sober Grad Night.

Joey was really sick over the next month, but it didn't stop us from talking. I couldn't wait to hang out with him again! Once he felt better, we began finding excuses to hang out all the time. Often, we were with a group of friends, but I remember one night after star gazing when we were the only two left over from a group outing. We stayed awake until 6am just talking, something that we can still do so many years into our relationship. He even snuck in a Taylor Swift pickup line. It was then when I realized what was between us was different. So I tried to make my feelings obvious one night after driving him home. I got out, hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek. He promptly said, "Thanks for the ride. Have a nice night" then turned around and went inside. I was heartbroken! I thought, "Well he obviously doesn't like me!" But luck had turned out, and Joey just needed an extra push from his best friend, Lee (who I may or may not had been frantically texting that night). I am taking a moment to thank you, Lee. That push lead me to where I am today.

Taking funny pictures after star-gazing.

The next day, Joey invited me on a hike up to Twin Peaks, an area close to his house. I thought we were going up with a group of friends, but when I showed up it was just us. The butterflies and excitement settled in once again. We made our way up and sat on what felt like the top of the world. We talked, and talked, and talked. And finally, the sun went down, the sky began to gently shower us in rain, and a magical thing happened. On July 23, 2007, we shared our last first kiss and it was out of this world amazing!

In the 6+ years that have passed, we've ridden so many roller coasters, taken beautiful hikes, kissed on numerous mountain tops, star gazed hundreds of times (even dubbing our own "cluster"), and so much more! And my best friend Jessica? She will be my maid of honor at our wedding, standing beside me as she always has. I have so many more fond memories I could write on, but it would take more than 6 years to write them all. But I always think back to that amazing summer of 2007, a time of great "firsts" that could never have competition. I always knew something was different with Joey, something spectacular and real. I've grown up because of him, and he has supported and loved me unconditionally, even when he probably shouldn't. Now, at 24, I can't imagine what my life would be like without him. He is the Sriracha to my pasta, the Cholula to my quesadilla, and the eggs to my benedict. I thank the universe every day for blessing me with such luck on finding the perfect person so early in life. I am grateful that I get to spend so much of my life with him and can't wait for our new adventures as husband and wife. THUMPER, I LOVE YOU!

Remember when

30 seemed so old

Now lookin' back

Its just a steppin' stone

To where we are

Where we've been

Said we'd do is all again

Remember when

- Alan Jackson -

July 2007 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Picking Joey up at the airport after being at UCSB for 2 weeks in August 2007.

My "going away" party in August 2007.

Prudence's birthday in September 2007.

Going on the "Sky Flyer" in Reno in September 2007.

Our last day of summer before becoming college students in September 2007.

Our first year together, hanging out at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz (2008).

2 year anniversary at Scusa's in Lake Tahoe (2009).

3 year anniversary, we got caught in a heavy downpour in Chicago, IL (2010).

4 year anniversary celebrating in wonderful Disneyland (2011).

5 year anniversary, Disneyland again (2012).

The night he proposed on Catalina Island, celebrating our 6 year anniversary (2013).